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Amid a tense national debate over sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, 83-year-old state Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, stepped forward Friday to share her own story of being sexually assaulted as a child.

“OK here goes,” she wrote Friday afternoon on Facebook. “I am 83 years old and I still remember the EXACT moment and EXACTLY where I was at age 13 when I was first horribly groped and forcibly kissed by a middle aged man who had been welcome visitor in my home.

“And no I never told anyone till now,” she continued. “And no I am not confused. And yes that was a long time ago.”

Weinberg’s Facebook post made reference to arguments used in recent days to try to discredit the story of Christine Blasey Ford, a psychology professor who has accused Kavanaugh of pinning her to a bed and sexually assaulting her when they were in high school over 35 years ago.

Many observers, particularly those on the political right, have wondered aloud whether Ford’s recollection was a case of “mistaken identity” given the time that has passed, while those on the left have stressed that they believe Ford and that her account should disqualify Kavanaugh from the high court.

Kavanaugh adamantly denies the allegations, and both he and Ford testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday that they are “100 percent” certain of their claims.

“I posted this today so people would better understand how girls and women have been treated for generations. And how most of us have reacted over some of those generations,” Weinberg wrote in a follow-up post Friday. “Each of these experiences are seared in our brains, in our emotions, and on our bodies. And no we are not confused. We know who our assaulters are and we know exactly where we were when they happened.”

Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, joined lawmakers of both parties in the State House on Sept. 27, 2018 to discuss the Legislature’s new policy against harassment and discrimination.(Photo: Nicholas Pugliese/NorthJersey.com)

Weinberg became emotional Thursday in describing the importance of the Legislature's new anti-harassment policy, which was adopted in both houses as the nation was transfixed by the televised testimony of Ford and Kavanaugh in Washington, D.C.

“Sort of a bittersweet moment that at this precise time we are here putting forth this policy,” Weinberg said.

The new policy mandates anti-harassment training for lawmakers and their staff and makes the complaint process more transparent, among other changes. It is the first update since 2009.

In her Facebook post, Weinberg named the man she said had assaulted her.

Weinberg said in a text message he was a friend of her mother's and was at least 50 years old at the time. “He could not possibly be alive," she said.

Weinberg’s story was met with an outpouring of support on Facebook and elicited accounts from other women of similar incidents that had happened to themselves or family members.

“What we have learned is how common these experiences are,” Weinberg said in a text message, describing that awareness as “both helpful and frightening.”

She expressed hope that the culture in America around reporting sexual assault was changing.

“My grandchildren and others will grow up feeling empowered to speak up and to speak out,” she said. “I didn't know that I could or should.”

Weinberg has served in the Senate since 2005, the last six as the majority leader. She began her legislative career as an Assembly member in 1992.

She was also the running mate of former Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, when they lost to Republican Chris Christie in 2009.